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Anthony Bourdain’s Daughter Reacted to His Death with a Poignant Question

December 5, 2018, 9:48 AM ET

Anthony Bourdain’s Daughter Reacted to His Death with a Poignant Question

Anthony Bourdain's 11-year-old daughter, Ariane, seemed to understand what her father meant to the world.

By
Alesandra Dubin

Anthony Bourdain's daughter, Ariane, was 11 years old when her father died in France by suicide in June. Days later, Bourdain's estranged wife, Ottavia Busia, shared an update explaining that the couple's daughter was managing to be "so strong and brave" in the wake of the tragedy. But now we know more about how Bourdain's only child — to whom he was deeply devoted and to whom he left the bulk of his estate — reacted upon learning that her father had passed.

Friends, family, and colleagues who had been close to Bourdain — including Eric Ripert, who discovered his body — all spoke to GQ as part of a tribute meant to provide a more layered, more accurate understanding of a complicated man. One of those people was Doug Quint, the co-owner of Big Gay Ice Cream, and a close family friend. He described Bourdain's daughter's reaction to the news this way: "That day, Ariane said to me something like, 'Is this something that people outside of New York are gonna know about?'"

The very question suggests an understanding of her father's iconic status — that fans around the world would feel deeply about Bourdain's death, as his work and philosophy had touched so many while he lived.

Quint told GQ, "And we were like, 'Yeah. All around the world, people are sad about this.' Telling her that made me realize, Jesus, God, this is world news. He changed lives around the world."

If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), text “help” to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 or go to suicidepreventionlifeline.org.

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